Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has accepted the early retirement request made by Abdul Basit, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, Geo News reported.
Abdul Basit was set to retire from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in April 2018. However, he had made a request for early retirement as he was reportedly unhappy over the elevation of Tehmina Janjua, who is junior to him, as Pakistan’s foreign secretary in February this year.
Abdul Basit had joined as High Commissioner to India in 2014 and he has completed his three-year tenure in New Delhi.
Prior to his appointment as the High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit served as Pakistan’s envoy to Germany from 2012-14. During his career, Basit handled important responsibilities at many Pakistani embassies including Moscow, New York, Sanaa, Geneva and London.
Abdul Basit joined the foreign service in 1982 and he has a master’s degree in international relations.
Sohail Mahmood, Pakistan’s serving Ambassador to Turkey, will replace Abdul Basit as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India.
Sohail Mahmood is likely to take up his new responsibilities in New Delhi in August this year.
